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As covered here, WWE Raw announcer Jonathon Coachman was one of several people named in a sexual harrassment and discrimination lawsuit filed by former ESPN host and legal analyst Adrienne Lawrence against the network where Coachman worked from 2008 - 2017.
ESPN has refuted the allegations in the suit. WWE issued a brief statement indicated they are taking the matter “very seriously and are investigating.”
Coachman himself took to Twitter this morning (Tues., Mar. 6) to deny the suit’s claims about his behavior:
“I will address this only once because I am seething today. In 21 years of being a PROFESSIONAL I have never been more offended in my life. I[n] my 9 years I can count on one hand the amount of times I interacted with anyone other than a co-anchor. To allow someone to spread vicious lies and flat out fabrications is not ok and it’s time someone stood up for themselves. Jemelle Hill addressed her lie last night. I am not a part of this lawsuit because I have never done anything wrong. My reputation speaks for itself and anyone that has ever worked with me will back that up.
I am also offended that someone can dangerously throw peoples [sic] names into something for the clear attempt at getting headlines. This the only time I will address this because I am not a part of this lawsuit. My heart goes out to anyone falsely accused of anything. Trust me it doesn’t feel good. But most of you have been incredible and supportive. Onward and upward.”
The denial Coachman references from Hill, a former SportsCenter host currently working as a senior correspondent and columnist for ESPN’s The Undefeated website, is regarding a separate example from Lawrence’s suit. The filing alleges long-time ESPN personality Chris Berman left Hill a “threatening and racially disparaging voicemail”, but Hill’s statement indicates her “personal conflict” with Berman was “handled swiftly and with the utmost professionalism”. She goes on to state her disappointment “that someone I considered a friend at one point would misrepresent and relay a private conversation... for personal gain”.
As Coachman’s statement points out, he is not a defendant in Lawrence’s suit, which names ESPN, Inc. and four executives (senior director for talent Meg Green, senior director for employee relations Rob Gallo, senior coordinating producer Jack Obringer and former director of employee relations Donna Hricisko).